Circular No. 129/2012/TT-BTC on the examination and issuance of Auditing Certificate and Accounting Practice Certificate

CIRCULAR

Provisions on the examination and issuance of the Auditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate

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Pursuant to the Law Kaccounting number 03/2003/QH11 dated June 17, 2003;

Pursuant to the Law Kindependent auditing number 67/2011/QH12 dated November 29,/3/2011;

Pursuant to Decree No. 129/2004/NĐ-CP dated May 31, 2004 of the Government qdetailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law Kaccounting applied in business activities;

Pursuant to Decree No. 17/2012/NĐ-CP dated March 13, 2012 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law Kon Independent Auditing;

Pursuant to Decree No. 118/2008/NĐ-CP dated November 27, 2008 of the Government qProvisioning functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Department of Accounting and Auditing Systems;

The Minister of Finance issues this Circular providing for the examination and issuance of the Auditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate. kAuditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular provides for the examination and issuance of the Auditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate in accordance with point c, Clause 2, Article 11 of the Law on Independent Auditing and Article 57 of the Law on kAccounting. K1. Candidates for the examination according to Article 3 of this Circular. K2. The National Examination Board for Auditors and Certified Public Accountants (hereinafter referred to as the Examination Board).

Article 2. Applicability

Other organizations and individuals related to the examination and issuance of Certificates.

ORGANIZATION OF EXAMINATIONS

3. Professional organizations in accounting and auditing.

41. A candidate for the Accounting Practice Certificate must meet the following conditions: kAuditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1

a) Possess professional ethics, honesty, integrity, and a sense of compliance with laws;

Article 3. Examination candidates

Vietnamese citizens or foreign citizens who meet the examination conditions specified in Article 4 of this Circular.

Article 4. Examination Conditions

b) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in Finance, Accounting, or Auditing;

c) Have at least 60 months of practical work experience in finance, accounting, or auditing from the month of graduation recorded on the bachelor's or postgraduate degree completion decision to the date of registration for the examination;

d) Submit a complete and correctly formatted application form and examination fee as prescribed;

đ) Not be among the categories specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 51 of the Law on Accounting.

2. A candidate for the Auditor Certificate must meet the following conditions:

b) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in Finance, Banking, Accounting, or Auditing; or hold a bachelor's degree in other majors and have a total of at least 7% of credit hours (or class hours) in subjects such as Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Financial Activity Analysis, and Taxation throughout the course; or hold a bachelor's degree in other majors and have certificates from international accounting and auditing professional organizations ensuring the provisions of Article 9 of this Circular;

c) Have at least 60 months of practical work experience in finance or accounting from the month of graduation recorded on the bachelor's or postgraduate degree completion decision to the date of registration for the examination; or have at least 48 months of practical work experience as an audit assistant in an auditing firm from the month of graduation recorded on the bachelor's or postgraduate degree completion decision to the date of registration for the examination;

c) Have at least 60 months of practical work experience in finance, accounting, or auditing from the month of graduation recorded on the bachelor's or postgraduate degree completion decision to the date of registration for the examination;

d) Submit a complete and correctly formatted application form and examination fee as prescribed.;

1. For candidates applying for the first time for the Auditor Certificate or the Accounting Practice Certificate, the application form shall include:

a) An application form confirmed by the workplace or local People's Committee where the applicant resides, with a recent color photograph measuring 3x4

Article 5. Examination Application Documents

taken within the last six months

and stamped across the back as prescribed in Appendix 02a or Appendix 02b along with a confirmation letter regarding the actual working period in finance, accounting, or auditing signed by the legal representative and stamped by the organization or unit; b) A certified copy of the ID card or passport; attached to this Circular c) A resume confirmed by the workplace or local People's Committee where the applicant resides; along with a confirmation letter regarding the actual working period in finance, accounting, or auditing signed by the legal representative and stamped by the organization or unit; Annex No. 06 attached to this Circular;

d) A certified copy of the diploma or certificate for candidates applying for the Accounting Practice Certificate under point b, Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular, and for candidates applying for the Auditor Certificate under point b, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular, confirmed by the issuing organization or notarized. If it is a bachelor's degree in another major, a transcript with certified credit hours (or class hours) of all courses must also be submitted. In case the candidate submits a master's or doctoral degree, a transcript with certified major must also be submitted;

đ) Three recent color photographs measuring 3x4 taken within the last six months and two envelopes with stamps and clearly marked with the recipient's name and address.

2. For candidates reapplying for subjects previously failed or for additional subjects, or to achieve the total score required under Clause 4, Article 18 of this Circular, the application form shall include:

a) An application form confirmed by the workplace or local People's Committee where the applicant resides, with a recent color photograph

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3x4 b) A certified copy of the examination result certificate for previous examinations announced by the Examination Board; 3. For holders of the Accounting Practice Certificate wishing to apply for the Auditor Certificate, the application form shall include: as prescribed in Appendix 02a or Appendix 02b along with a confirmation letter regarding the actual working period in finance, accounting, or auditing signed by the legal representative and stamped by the organization or unit; b) A certified copy of the ID card or passport; attached to this Circular;

a) An application form confirmed by the workplace or local People's Committee where the applicant resides, with a recent color photograph

c) Photographs and envelopes as specified in point đ, Clause 1 of this Article.

size

and stamped across the back Appendix 02b 3. For holders of the Accounting Practice Certificate wishing to apply for the Auditor Certificate, the application form shall include: as prescribed in d) A certified copy of the Accounting Practice Certificate; 4. The Examination Board will issue the application forms uniformly. Applicants must submit their applications to the Examination Board or authorized units within the deadline announced by the Examination Board. along with a confirmation letter regarding the actual working period in finance, accounting, or auditing signed by the legal representative and stamped by the organization or unit; 5. Units receiving application forms will only accept them when applicants submit all required documents and pay the full examination fee. attached to this Circular;

d) A certified copy of the diploma or certificate for candidates applying for the Accounting Practice Certificate under point b, Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular, and for candidates applying for the Auditor Certificate under point b, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular, confirmed by the issuing organization or notarized. If it is a bachelor's degree in another major, a transcript with certified credit hours (or class hours) of all courses must also be submitted. In case the candidate submits a master's or doctoral degree, a transcript with certified major must also be submitted;

đ) Three recent color photographs measuring 3x4 taken within the last six months and two envelopes with stamps and clearly marked with the recipient's name and address.

6. The examination fee will be refunded to those who do not meet the examination requirements or who have requested not to participate in the examination within ten days from the date the Examination Board announces the list of eligible candidates.

đ) Photographs and envelopes as specified in point đ, Clause 1 of this Article.

1. Candidates for the Accounting Practice Certificate shall take four subjects:

(1) Economic Laws and Business Law;

(2) Finance and Financial Management; (3) Taxation and Tax Management; (4) Financial Accounting and Management Accounting.

Article 6. Examination Content

2. Candidates for the Auditor Certificate shall take seven subjects:

(5) Auditing and Assurance Services; Domestic air passenger transport service on regular basic economy class(6) Financial Activity Analysis;

(7) Foreign Language Level C in one of five common languages: English, Russian, French, Chinese, or German. the effectiveness of operations and;

3. Holders of the Accounting Practice Certificate taking the Auditor Certificate examination shall take three subjects: the effectiveness of operations and;

(1) Auditing and Assurance Services; the effectiveness of operations and.

(2) Financial Activity Analysis;

(5) Auditing and Assurance Services; Domestic air passenger transport service on regular basic economy class(6) Financial Activity Analysis;

(7) Foreign Language Level C in one of five common languages: English, Russian, French, Chinese, or German. the effectiveness of operations and;

3. Holders of the Accounting Practice Certificate taking the Auditor Certificate examination shall take three subjects: the effectiveness of operations and;

(1) Auditing and Assurance Services; the effectiveness of operations and;

(5) Auditing and assurance services the effectiveness of operations and;

(6) Financial activity analysis the effectiveness of operations and;

(7) Level C proficiency in one of five common foreign languages: English, Russian, French, Chinese, German.

3. Persons holding a Professional Accounting Certificate who wish to obtain an Auditor Certificate must take the following three subjects:

(1) Auditing and assurance services the effectiveness of operations and;

(2) Financial activity analysis the effectiveness of operations and;

(3) Level C proficiency in one of the five commonly used foreign languages: English, Russian, French, Chinese, or German.

4. Content of each subject includes both theoretical and practical components applied to case scenarios. as specified in Appendix No. 01 of this Circular. The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for drafting, updating, and publicly disclosing the content, curriculum, and study materials for obtaining the Accounting Practitioner Certificate and the Auditor Certificate.

5. A first-time applicant for the Accounting Practitioner Certificate must take at least two subjects as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article. A first-time applicant for the Auditor Certificate must register for at least four subjects as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article.

Article 7. Examination Format

For each subject prescribed in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 6 of this Circular (except for the Foreign Language subject), candidates must complete a written test within 180 minutes. For the Foreign Language subject, candidates must complete a written test within 120 minutes.

Article 8. Organization of Examinations

1. The Examination Board shall organize at least one examination session annually in the third or fourth quarter. At least 60 days before the examination date, the Examination Board shall officially announce on mass media the conditions, criteria, time, location, and other necessary information related to the examination.

2. Within the latest 60 days from the end of the examination, the Examination Board must publish the results of each subject and notify the candidates. In special cases requiring an extension of the announcement period, the Chairman of the Examination Board may decide, but the extended period shall not exceed 30 days.

Article 9. Diplomas and certificates issued by international professional organizations in accounting and auditing

Diplomas and certificates awarded upon completion of courses by international professional organizations in accounting and auditing shall be recognized according to the provisions of point b, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular if they meet the following conditions simultaneously:

1. The international professional organization issuing the diplomas and certificates must be a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) that has established a representative office or branch operating in Vietnam.

2. The international professional organization in accounting and auditing must have signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam regarding the joint certification program for professional auditors.

3. The course content leading to the issuance of diplomas and certificates must include a total of between 500 to 600 class hours (or units of study) on finance, accounting, and auditing.

4. The learning, examination, and certification process for students completing the courses must be uniformly implemented in all countries where the international professional organization in accounting and auditing operates through its representative offices or branches.

Section 2

ORGANIZING EXAMINATIONS FOR FOREIGN HOLDERS OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES IN ACCOUNTING OR AUDITING

1. Individuals holding professional certificates in accounting or auditing from foreign professional organizations recognized by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam who wish to obtain the Auditor Certificate or the Accounting Practitioner Certificate of Vietnam must sit for an examination on Vietnamese laws.

Article 10. Conditions for taking the examination and content of the examination

If the certificate-issuing organization is a competent state authority (not a professional organization), then the candidate must be a regular member of a professional organization in accounting and auditing, and such organization must be a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). The content of the courses and examinations for obtaining the professional certificates must be equivalent to or higher than the content stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular.

a) Being a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC);

2. Foreign professional organizations recognized by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam must meet the following conditions:

a) A member of the Association Kb) Having course content and examination requirements for obtaining the Auditor Certificate and the Accounting Practitioner Certificate equivalent to or higher than those stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular.

3. Foreign professional organizations recognized by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam for professional certificates in accounting or auditing include:

a) The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA);

b) CPA Australia.

4. Foreign professional organizations not listed in Clause 3 of this Article, which meet the conditions stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, shall be recognized by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam for professional certificates in accounting or auditing.

5. The content of the examination for obtaining the Auditor Certificate includes the following parts:

(1) Economic Law and Business Law;

(2) Finance and Financial Management;

(3) Taxation and Tax Administration;

(4) Financial Accounting and Management Accounting;

(5) Auditing and Assurance Services.

6. The content of the examination for obtaining the Accounting Practitioner Certificate includes Parts (1), (2), (3), and (4) as stipulated in Clause 5 of this Article.

7. The content and requirements of each examination part are specified in Appendix No. 01.

8. Individuals meeting the conditions stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, who have participated in and met the requirements of the joint examinations organized by the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam and ACCA, shall be exempted from Parts (1) and (3) as stipulated in Clause 5 of this Article.

9. The language used in the examination is Vietnamese.

10. The examination duration is 180 minutes for all five parts. For those participating in four parts, the examination duration is 145 minutes. For those participating in three parts, the examination duration is 110 minutes.

a) An application form for the examination, confirmed by the workplace or unit where the applicant is currently employed, with a color photograph attached

Article 11. Application Documents for Registration to Take the Examination

1. Application documents for registration to take the examination include:

Appendix No. 02c b) A certified copy of the examination result certificate for previous examinations announced by the Examination Board; 3. For holders of the Accounting Practice Certificate wishing to apply for the Auditor Certificate, the application form shall include: as prescribed in Appendix 02a or Appendix 02b along with a confirmation letter regarding the actual working period in finance, accounting, or auditing signed by the legal representative and stamped by the organization or unit; b) A certified copy or a certified Vietnamese translation of the foreign Professional Accountant Certificate or Auditor Certificate; attached to this Circular;

c) Documentation (including a certified Vietnamese translation if the documentation is in a foreign language) proving that the applicant is a regular member of the professional organization;

d) Three recent color photographs measuring 3x4 cm taken within six months and two envelopes with stamps and the recipient's full name and address clearly marked;

đ) A certified copy of the Identity Card or Passport;

e) A resume confirmed by the workplace or unit where the applicant is currently employed or by the People's Committee of the locality where the applicant resides;

g) Documentation proving that the foreign professional organizations specified in Clause 4 of Article 10 meet the conditions stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 10.

g) Documentation proving compliance with the conditions stipulated in Clause 2, Article 10 for foreign professional organizations falling within the scope defined in Clause 4, Article 10.

2. Application documents for the examination are issued by the Examination Board according to a unified model. Applicants must submit their application documents to the Examination Board at least thirty days before the examination date.

Article 12. Examination Results

1. The examination grading scale is a 100-point scale. Examination scores range from 1 point upwards.

2. For the examination to grant the Auditor Certificate, the passing score is a score of 70 points or higher, or 42 points or higher for those exempted from Part (1) and Part (3), or 56 points or higher for those exempted from Part (1) or Part (3). For the examination to grant the Accounting Practice Certificate, the passing score is a score of 56 points or higher. The examination results will be announced to each examinee.

3. Those who pass the examination will be granted the Auditor Certificate or the Accounting Practice Certificate by the Ministry of Finance.

4. Other provisions shall be implemented in accordance with this Circular.

Section 3

NATIONAL AUDITOR AND ACCOUNTANT PRACTICE CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION BOARD

Article 13. National Auditor and Accountant Practice Certificate Examination Board

1. The Examination Board shall be established by the Minister of Finance upon the proposal of the Director General of the Accounting and Auditing System Department and the Director General of the Cadre and Civil Servants Organization Department.

2. The Examination Board is responsible for organizing the auditor and accountant practice examinations according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance. In each examination period, the Chairman of the Examination Board must establish the Examination Committee, the Supervision Committee, the Grading Committee, and the Re-grading Committee (if necessary).

Article 14. Composition of the Examination Board

1. The Examination Board is established for each examination period. The composition of the Examination Board does not exceed 11 people, including:

a) The Chairman of the Examination Board is a leader of the Ministry of Finance or a Deputy Director General authorized by the Minister of Finance;

b)4 Vice-Chairman is a leader of the Accounting and Auditing System Department, a leader of the Cadre and Civil Servants Organization Department of the Ministry of Finance, a leader of accounting and auditing professional organizations, among which the leader of the Accounting and Auditing System Department is the Vice-Chairman in charge;

specialized agency under the People's Committee of the province/city.) Secretary member and other members of the Examination Board are representatives of some units under the Ministry of Finance.

2. An individual may not participate as a member of the Examination Board for more than three consecutive examination periods, except in specific cases decided by the Minister of Finance.

3. A person whose father, mother, child, brother, sister, or half-sibling (or spouse's father, mother, child, brother, sister, or half-sibling) is taking the examination shall not participate in the Examination Board and all related departments of that examination.

4. Anyone participating in tutoring, guiding review for any examination period shall not participate as a member of the Examination Board, in setting questions, reviewing questions, grading (including first grading and re-grading) that examination period. A member of the Examination Board for any examination period shall not participate in lecturing, tutoring, guiding study, or review for that examination period. Anyone who has participated in the first grading shall not participate in re-grading.

5. The office of the Examination Board is located at the Accounting and Auditing System Department, Ministry of Finance.

6. The Examination Board has a Standing Team proposed by the Director General of the Accounting and Auditing System Department and the Director General of the Cadre and Civil Servants Organization Department to the Chairman of the Examination Board for establishment. The Standing Team shall not exceed nine members.

7. The functions and tasks of the departments established and organized by the Examination Board include the Standing Team, the Question Setting Committee, the Supervision Committee, the Grading Committee, and the Re-grading Committee in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

Article 15. Working Regime of the Examination Council

1. The Examination Council operates under a collective regime. Decisions of the Examination Council are adopted when at least two-thirds of the members agree.

2. The Examination Council may use the seal of the Ministry of Finance during its operational period.

3. The Examination Board may use administrative working hours to organize meetings and activities within its duties and powers. ectMembers of the Examination Board ect are entitled to remuneration deducted from examination fees at the level approved by the Ministry of Finance.

4. The program and content of each Examination Council meeting must be notified in writing to members five days before the meeting.

Article 16. Responsibilities and Powers of the Examination Council

1. Publicly announce the examination plan through mass media.

2. Receive, examine applications, establish and review candidate lists for the examination.

3. Develop examination questions and answers for each examination session.

4. Organize invigilation and marking of examinations.

5. Compile examination results for each session and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

6. Announce examination results and notify scores to candidates according to the approved results of the Ministry of Finance.

7. Organize a re-examination of examination results if the examinee requests it.

8. Preserve and store examination questions, answer papers, and related materials until they are handed over in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

9. Proactively propose or participate in improving regulations on examinations and granting Auditor Certificates and Accounting Practice Certificates when required.

Article 17. Duties and Powers of Examination Council Members

1. Chairman of the Examination Board:

a) Is responsible for organizing the implementation of the Examination Council's tasks and powers as stipulated in this Circular;

b) Assign responsibilities to Vice Chairmen and individual members of the Examination Council;

c) Decide on the establishment of the Question Setting Committee, Invigilation Committee, Marking Committee, and Re-marking Committee;

d) Organizing the the preparation of sealed questions and answers, selecting questions and answers according to the prescribed content and program, ensuring absolute confidentiality of questions and answers before the examination; For power plants invested under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, n is determined according to the operational period of the power plant stipulated in the BOT contract.if necessary, inviting experts to review the questions;

đ) Report examination results to the Minister of Finance;

e) Delegate authority to the Acting Vice Chairman of the Examination Council to manage the council's work in his absence.

2. Vice-Chairman in charge of the Examination Board: Clause on managing regular operations of the Council ect pursuant to the division of tasks by the Chairman of the Examination Council.

3. Deputy Chairmen and members of the Examination Council: Perform tasks according to the division of tasks by the Chairman of the Examination Council.

4. Secretary member of the Examination Council:

a) Organize the receipt of candidate files, submit for the Examination Council's review of the list of candidates participating in the examination;

b) Prepare necessary documents of the Examination Council and record minutes of the Council's meetings;

c) Compile lists of eligible candidates and ineligible candidates for the examination, submit for the Examination Council's approval and publicly announce the list of successful candidates on the Ministry of Finance’s website.;

d) Collect disciplinary violation records of candidates and submit them to the Examination Council for consideration;

đ) Other tasks assigned by the Chairman of the Examination Council.

Section 4

EXAMINATION RESULTS, PRESERVATION, REVIEW, AND CANCELLATION OF EXAMINATION RESULTS

Article 18. Examination Results, Retention of Examination Results, Meeting Examination Requirements

1. Subject achieving the required standard: Those subjects scoring 5 points or higher on a scale of 10, or 50 points or higher on a scale of 100 (only applicable to foreign language subjects).

2. Preservation of examination results:

The scores of subjects achieving the required standard are preserved for three years from the year of the first examination session (rounded to the nearest year). For example, if a candidate takes the exam in 2012, the preservation period would be 2012, 2013, and 2014.

During the preservation period, the candidate may take the remaining subjects not yet taken or retake those subjects that did not meet the required standard or increase their scores according to the provisions of Clause 3 of this Article, but each subject can only be attempted up to three times (including the first attempt).

3. Increasing scores: Candidates who have achieved the required standard in the subjects specified in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 6 (excluding the foreign language subject), but have not met the required standard as stipulated in Clause 4 of Article 6, may choose to register for increasing scores within the scope of three examination attempts as provided in Clause 2 of this Article. In cases of increasing scores, the examination result will be based on the highest score obtained in all attempts.

4. Meeting Examination Requirements:

a) For candidates taking the examination to obtain the Accounting Practice Certificate: Candidates must achieve the required standard in all four subjects specified in Clause 1 of Article 6 and have a total score of 25 points or higher to meet the examination requirements;

b) For candidates taking the examination to obtain the Auditor Certificate: Candidates must achieve the required standard in all seven subjects specified in Clause 2 of Article 6 and have a total score of 38 points or higher in the subjects (excluding the foreign language subject) to meet the examination requirements;

c) For candidates holding the Accounting Practice Certificate taking the examination to obtain the Auditor Certificate: Candidates must achieve the required standard in all three subjects specified in Clause 3 of Article 6 and have a total score of 12.5 points or higher in the subjects (excluding the foreign language subject) to meet the examination requirements.

5. Candidates meeting the examination requirements as specified in point a, Clause 4 of this Article shall be issued the Accounting Practice Certificate, and candidates meeting the examination requirements as specified in point b or point c, Clause 4 of this Article shall be issued the Auditor Certificate.

Article 19. Approval of Examination Results

1. The Examination Board bases on the marking results of each subject to compile a list of examination results for each subject of candidates to submit to the Ministry of Finance for approval for each examination period.

2. Within fifteen days from the date of announcement of the examination results, candidates have the right to request a re-examination of their papers by submitting a petition to the Chairman of the Examination Council. If there is a re-examination, the examination result will be based on the re-examination score.

Article 20. Cancellation of Examination Results

1. Examination results of all subjects will be cancelled in the following circumstances:

a) Exceeding the preservation period without meeting the total score requirement as specified in Point a, Clause 4 of Article 18 of this Circular;

b) One of the subjects has been attempted three times but still does not meet the required standard as specified in Clause 1 of Article 18 of this Circular.

2. Candidates whose examination results are cancelled and wish to continue taking the examination must retake all subjects specified in Clauses 1, 2, or 3 of Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 21. Certificate of Examination Scores

Based on the examination results approved by the Ministry of Finance, the Chairman of the Examination Council issues a Certificate of Examination Scores to each candidate (Annex 03a, Annex 03b, Annex 03c). The Certificate of Examination Scores serves as the basis for applying to take unattempted subjects, retaking subjects that did not meet the required standard, or taking the examination to increase scores (for candidates who have not completed or not met the required standard in all subjects).

Section 5

ISSUING THE AUDITOR CERTIFICATE OR ACCOUNTING PRACTICE CERTIFICATE

Article 22. Issuance of Auditor Certificate or Accounting Practice Certificate

1. Within forty-five days from the date of examination results, the Ministry of Finance shall issue the Auditor Certificate or Accounting Practice Certificate to those who have passed the examination.

2. The Auditor Certificate (Annex No. 04) or the Accounting Practice Certificate (Annex No. 05) shall be directly handed over to the certificate holder or their authorized representative; in case of loss, it will not be reissued.

3. The Auditor Certificate and the Accounting Practice Certificate have legal validity for registering to practice auditing or accounting in accordance with current laws on auditing and accounting practices.

4. Fees for issuing the Auditor Certificate and Accounting Practice Certificate shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

Chapter 6

HANDLING OF VIOLATIONS

Article 23. Handling of violations by individuals involved in organizing examinations

1. Violations by personnel involved in examination organization work include:

a) Bringing prohibited materials or items into the examination room or marking room; ectexamination room, marking room;

b) Neglecting responsibilities in preparing for the examination, affecting its results.

c) Distorting the truth about candidates' records.

d) Directly solving problems for candidates during the examination period.

đ) Revealing the examination number or test paper sequence.

e) Swapping examination papers, examination numbers, or scores of candidates.

g) Losing candidates' examination papers when collecting, transporting, storing, or grading them.

h) Altering candidates' answer sheets.

i) Altering scores on examination papers, marking records, or score summary sheets;

k) Leaking examination questions, answers; buying or selling examination questions, answers;

l) Taking examination questions out of the examination area or bringing solutions from outside into the examination area during the examination period.

m) Organized cheating during the examination.

2. Individuals involved in organizing examinations who commit violations as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article shall be immediately suspended from participating in examination organization activities upon discovery of the violation, and may be subject to disciplinary measures by the personnel management authority according to relevant laws, which may include a ban on undertaking related tasks involving the Examination Board for a period of one to five years depending on the severity of the violation.

Article 24. Handling of violations by candidates

1. Warning for the first candidate who engages in conversation or exchange of papers with others.

2. Recording in the report and deducting twenty-five percent of the examination score for the second candidate who engages in conversation or exchange of papers with others.

3. Suspension of the examination if any of the following violations occur:

a) Continuing to violate after being recorded for talking or exchanging papers with others.

b) Bringing into the examination room prohibited materials or items during the time from when the examination paper is distributed until the end of the examination period (whether used or unused);

c) Using materials or technical means for receiving, transmitting, recording audio or video, or devices containing information that can be exploited to answer examination questions in any form, both inside and outside the examination room;

d) Passing scratch paper or examination papers to other candidates or accepting scratch paper or examination papers from other candidates;

đ) Intentionally failing to submit examination papers, tearing up others' examination papers, or using others' examination papers to submit as one's own.

4. Candidates suspended during an examination session will receive zero points for that subject; they must leave the examination room immediately after the invigilator records the suspension and receives the decision from the Examination Center Director; they must hand over their work and examination papers to the invigilator and may only leave the examination area after two-thirds of the examination time has elapsed; they are not allowed to take subsequent subjects and their entire examination results will be nullified.

5. Nullification of examination results and disqualification from participating in the next two examination sessions or referral to competent authorities for criminal responsibility for candidates who commit any of the following violations:

a) Assaulting invigilators, examination organizers, or other candidates.

b) Causing disturbances that disrupt security and order in the examination area, resulting in serious consequences for the examination.

c) Falsifying examination records, taking the examination on behalf of others, or having others take the examination on their behalf.

6. Disciplinary actions against candidates must be announced to the candidates. If a candidate violates during the examination and refuses to sign the report, two invigilators shall sign the report confirming the violation. If there is disagreement between the invigilator and the Examination Center Director regarding the handling method, both parties' opinions shall be recorded in the report for the Examination Supervision Committee to decide.

Article 25. Handling cases of violations during examination marking

1. For examination papers suspected of having marks that indicate cheating, collective marking shall be organized. If there is sufficient credible evidence for the examiners and the Head of the Examination Committee to conclude that the candidate intentionally committed an error, then 25% of the total score of that subject's examination paper will be deducted.

2. A score of zero (0) shall be given to examination papers written on paper not in accordance with regulations or examination papers determined to have been intentionally written in different types of characters or ink.

3. For examination papers torn due to being ripped by other examinees, based on the examination supervision report, normal marking shall proceed and the examination results shall be recognized.

Article 26. Revocation

Conly for auditors, Conly for accountants

1. The auditor certificate and The practice certificate of accountants shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) Misrepresenting the work experience and time period in the application file to meet the eligibility requirements for taking Cthe auditor certificate and Cthe accountant practice certificate.

b) Altering, forging, or fraudulently obtaining qualifications or certificates to meet the eligibility requirements for taking Cthe auditor certificate and Cthe accountant practice certificate.

c) Taking the exam on behalf of another person or asking someone else to take the exam on their behalf in the auditor certificate and accountant practice certificate examination.

d) Other cases as prescribed by law.

2. The Ministry of Finance has the authority to revoke Conly for auditors, Cthe accountant practice certificate.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 27. Transitional Provisions

The practice of upgrading scores, taking exams on unattempted topics, retaking exams on topics that did not meet the requirements, granting passing grades, and retaining examination results of those who took the auditor certificate and accountant practice certificate examinations from the 2011 examination session onwards shall continue to be implemented according to the examination regulations issued by Decision No. 94/2007/QD-BTC dated November 16, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance on Issuing Examination Regulations and Issuing Auditor Certificates and Accountant Practice Certificates and Circular No. 171/2009/TT-BTC dated August 24, 2009 of the Ministry of Finance amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Examination Regulations and Issuing Cauditor certificates and accountant practice certificates issued together with Decision No. 94/2007/QD-BTC dated November 16, 2007 of the Minister of Finance until December 31, 2013.

Article 28. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from the date 25 the 9 in 2012 and replacing Decision No. 94/2007/QD-BTC dated November 16, 2007 of the Ministry of Finance on Issuing Examination Regulations and Issuing Auditor Certificates and Accountant Practice Certificates and Circular No. 171/2009/TT-BTC dated August 24, 2009 of the Ministry of Finance amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Examination Regulations and Issuing Cauditor certificates and accountant practice certificates issued together with Decision No. 94/2007/QD-BTC dated November 16, 2007 of the Minister of Finance.

Article 29. Implementation Organization

The Director of the Accounting and Auditing System Department, the Director of the Cadres and Civil Servants Organization Department, the Chairman of the National Auditor and Practicing Accountant Examination Council, and the Heads of related units are responsible for implementing this Circular./.